First things first! Y'all spoke, and by popular vote, March will be less intense on mega-plotty mod-run events. We still have a few fun things up our sleeves, so read on for what to expect in the coming weeks!


OK, here's the OOC stuff to keep in mind - y'all know the drill by now, so we won't get too elaborate:

- Apps are open March 1-7! Many of you have invites - use 'em or lose 'em!
- AC comments are due by Thursday, March 5! Please remember that comments from inbox threads can only count for HALF of your AC submission.
- NAPs will be held March 8-11 - details below!

It's been a pretty mild winter here in Dualis, and spring is just around the corner. However, whoever or whatever controls the weather around here has decided to have winter exit stage right, pursued by a blizzard.



That's right! Everyone gets a blizzard, and we're not talking about the tasty blended ice cream treat. On March 1, snow starts unexpectedly coming down, accompanied by severely freezing temperatures and heavy gusts of wind. For the next four days, until March 5, the snow continues, growing in intensity until it finally dies down. The city's automated systems do what they can to keep streets and sidewalks clear, but the snowfall is too intense for them to keep up until the storm stops. Some businesses will close due to the severe conditions preventing travel, the public transportation networks are shut down to minimal services with long delays, and the mayor announces a city-wide emergency status until the blizzard ends. But at least the power remains steady, so even if you end up snowed in, you'll still be able to keep warm. Just sit back with a nice warm beverage and your favorite sweater and wait it out!

From March 6-7, city crews will be busy clearing roads and sidewalks, picking up damaged branches and signs that were knocked down by the storm, and generally getting things back to working order. Businesses will reopen, the city emergency status is lifted, and if you've been waiting for a good time to go out sledding and snow angel-ing, there is no better time than now.

So, about NAPs! Because of this rare meteorological event gracing the city, the monthly meet-and-greet will be held at the now-frozen lake and partnered with winter sports tournaments and events for all ages, such as: ice hockey, speed skating, curling, skiing, interpretive dance on ice, organized snowball fights, and competitive ice fishing. Vendors will have warm drinks and snacks and high-performance gear for sale, and heated tents will be found along the snow-covered boardwalk for warmth and shelter. The weather is sunny but cold enough to keep everything frozen for a few days.

The sun stays out in the days following NAPs, warming the city and melting the accumulated snow. Flash flooding is not out of the question, especially for basements, but there's no crisis-level extreme weather again. By March 20, the snow is gone, the roads are dry, and it's time for the annual tradition of the city's official sport - MURDERBALL.

Murderball is played throughout the city, much like the marker tag tournament that was held in the summer. This sport is a cross between dodgeball and laser tag; participants are given balls that are the typical dodgeball soft(ish) rubber, but about the size of a softball. Players wear neon-colored smart bracelets to indicate they are participating, which are synced to the balls and keep track of how many times the player wearing it is hit by another ball. Participants MUST wear the bracelet, or their balls will immediately deflate. Throw those balls at your friends and enemies until the murderball tournament ends on March 31.

Now, as far as your various IC investigations go throughout the month, keep in mind that the Head's onboarding to the city claims that those who are brought to the city will be returned to their home worlds after spending one year in observation. As everyone probably knows by now, this is a complete lie - whether you wish to return home after your year is up or you decide to stick around indefinitely, Dualizens are picked up by a team of Iterations and taken away to a secure facility for ... deprogramming. Which is a nice way of saying murdered by their cyborg double. We opened this game in mid-June, which is only a few short months away from March, so folks who have been here from the beginning are starting to stare down a deadline. We want to gently remind everyone about this so you can plan your IC exit strategies accordingly. c:

There are plenty of mysteries in the city yet to explore, and many different paths to approaching the road of Getting The Hell Outta Here. If you have ideas about how you'd like to get more involved this month and beyond, we'll make a toplevel in the comments below where you can ask questions and pitch your ideas. We've said this before but it bears repeating: all you need to do to get involved is ask! Ask for suggestions, ask for clues, ask what YOU can do to pitch in and save your fellow flesh husks (and Connor, and EDI) from extermination.